Good morning everyone and happy Friday. I was lucky enough to get this gorgeous book post recently.
The Fisherman’s Gift sounds wonderful and I’m very excited to read it soon. The fudge didn’t last long though I can honestly say I was helped by three very enthusiastic kids!
Huge thanks to the lovely Ellie Pilcher and Harvill Secker for sending.
Out 6th March 2025 and you can find out more about the book below ⬇️
Book Synopsis:
The sea stole him from her. Could it bring him back?
Winter, 1900. A little boy washes up on the beach of a small fishing village in Scotland, barely alive. He bears an uncanny resemblance to teacher Dorothy’s son, lost to the sea many years before.
When the village is snowed in, Dorothy agrees to look after the child until he can be returned home. But, as the past rises to meet the present, long-buried secrets in this tight-knit community start to come to light. And Dorothy finds herself thrown together again with the reclusive fisherman Joseph, after years of keeping their distance.
Bursting with tension and tenderness, this is an exquisite love story that delves into the griefs and hopes that can lie behind village gossip.
About The Author:
Julia Kelly has been longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Prize, the Exeter Novel Prize, PenguinWriteNow, and the Bath Novel Award. In 2021 she won the Blue Pencil First Novel Award. Having grown up in a house without television, Julia read anything she could lay her hands on, and as an English teacher, she has tried to pass on her love of stories to the next generation of readers and writers. Since becoming a wheelchair-user, Julia has learned to appreciate even more fully the journeys the written word can take us on. She lives in Herefordshire with her partner and between them, they have raised five wonderful children. The Fishersman’s Gift is her debut novel.
From the author of the Legends of Thezmarr series, Iron & Embers by Helen Scheuerer is the first book in The Ashes of Thezmarr series. Perfect for fans of The Witcher and The Bridge Kingdom, Iron & Embers is filled with a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance, dark magic and a world of assassins and warriors.
Alchemist. Poisoner. Storm wielder.
Wren Embervale, alchemist-turned-assassin, finds solace in only one thing: seeking vengeance for the death of her friends from wars past. But when an unknown form of alchemy is used to attack a king of the war-torn midrealms, Wren is charged with finding a cure for the strange new poison. Offered a place at the ancient alchemy academy of Drevenor, she must claim her spot by conquering the Gauntlet – a gruelling series of deadly trials that could cost her sanity, or her life.
Yet the biggest threat of all might come from the man assigned to protect her – Torj Elderbrock, the silver-haired war hero who has hated her since she assassinated his last charge. Their shared history ignites a simmering tension that threatens to consume them both. With peace between the kingdoms as fragile as ever, and enemies lurking around every corner, Wren will discover whether love can truly heal all wounds – or if it is in fact the most lethal poison of all . . .
Set five years after the events of the Legends of Thezmarr series, Iron & Embers by Helen Scheuerer is the breathtaking first instalment in an epic new fantasy romance trilogy.
My Review:
Iron & Embers is a gripping, fast paced, absorbing read from a fantastic new romantasy series.
Firstly I loved the world the author has created in this book and I really enjoyed exploring it alongside the characters. I loved learning more about the different parts of Thezmarr but my favourite part was definitely the academy that Wren attends. It seemed to be a mix of Hogwarts with the magical elements and the Zodiac Academy for the brutality of some of the lessons which made for a really interesting read.
The story is told from the point of view of both Wren and Torj which helped me get to know both of them. I started off not liking Wren and feeling sorry for Torj but that completely flipped as the story continued. It was lovely to see Wren change from quite a prickly character who’s determined to do everything herself to a more lovable character who has a group of friends which I loved to see.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more in the series. The book is very gripping and I quickly found myself drawn into the story with the fast pace making it hard to put down. The romance side of the book is a bit of a slow burn and I did groan out loud at one point at Wren & Torj constant skirting around each other as I just wanted them to get together. The ending was very surprising and not at all how I expected the book to end but I think sets up the story nicely for the next book in the series which I’ll definitely be reading. I’m now excited to go back and read The Legends Of Thezmarr series which is set in the same world.
Huge thanks to Book Beat and Pan Macmillan for inviting me onto the read-along and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Helen Scheuerer is the fantasy author of the bestselling series, The Oremere Chronicles, the Curse of the Cyren Queen quartet and The Legends of Thezmarr. Her work has been highly praised for its strong, flawed female characters and its action-packed plots.
Helen’s love of writing and books led her to pursue a creative writing degree and a Masters of Publishing. She has been a full-time author since 2018 and now lives amidst the mountains in New Zealand where she is constantly dreaming up new stories.
Good morning everyone and happy Wednesday. Here are some of the books on my tbr list this month and as it’s Wednesday I’ve made it wonky cos…why not!
🎄 Happy Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton 🎁Letters From The Ginza Stationery Shop by Kenji Ueda 🎄 Butter by Asako Yuzuki 🎁Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao 🎄And He Shall Appear by Kate Van Der Borgh 🎁Burn After Reading by Catherine Ryan Howard 🎄The Cleaner by Mary Watson 🎁The Favourites by Layne Fargo 🎄The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gillmore 🎁The Eights by Joanna Miller 🎄Death In The Arctic by Tom Hindle 🎁So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne 🎄Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey 🎁Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Pavesi 🎄Every Moment Since by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen 🎁 Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lemon
I don’t seem to do very well with sticking with these piles and at this stage I’ve probably cursed these books to never be read now 🤣 December is a busy month so I’ve tried to choose books that I think will grip me.
I had a busy day yesterday which ended with a really lovely bookclub. It was nice to catch up again and enjoy mince pies with mulled wine. I have to go pick up some Christmas cards for the kids as my daughter’s been nagging me. I’m then hoping for a quiet morning reading before working this afternoon. It’s getting busy in the bookstore in the run up to Christmas so work is very exciting atm. Just a polite message if you’re in an Indie bookstore and a bookseller has spent ages giving you suggestions – it’s polite to then not turn round and say thanks you’ll get them on Amazon….. Happened twice yesterday and so disheartening!
What books are you hoping to read this month? Do we have any in common?
Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday. I’m a huge fan of translated fiction and here are three books I want to read soon!
🩵 Letters From The Ginza Stationery Shop by Kenji Ueda 💙The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang 💛 Butter by Asako Yuzuki
I’m hoping to choose a translated book for my April book club choice at Rossiter books so I’ll be reading these soon. My colleague has already chosen Butter for one of her books club choices later next year so it’s between the other two. I’m currently reading and loving The Rainfall Market so I’m leaning towards that book but it would be good to support a smaller publisher with the Stationery Shop. Butter has been getting lots of hype recently as it won the Books Are My Bag Awards prize for fiction and Waterstones has announced it as their book of the year so im very intrigued!
I’m off this morning and I’m meeting my mum for coffee at hers as she’s having to wait in to receive a parcel which happens to be my Christmas present (very intrigued). I’ve then got to go shopping as we’re having mince pies and mulled wine at our bookclub tonight. I’m then working which is always fun before hosting our bookclub tonight which I always love. There’s some great girls who come so it’s always great to catch up.
Find out more about the books below ⬇️
Do you like translated fiction? Any recommendations for me?
Letters From The Ginza Stationery Shop by Kenji Ueda
From the publishers of the international bestseller Days at the Morisaki Bookshop comes a new book about the beauty of humble objects, the power of writing, and reconnecting with those you have lost.
Write a letter, heal your heart . . .
Hidden away in a corner of the Ginza neighbourhood is a venerable stationery shop. To venture inside is to find everything your stationery-loving heart desires, from the most delicate paper to fountain pens that fit exactly to the shape of your hand to gorgeously coloured inks. The shop owner intuits your every need, inviting you to take a seat at a small wooden table on the top floor, where you’ll find the words flowing, helping you unlock repressed memories, secret longings and your own mysteries.
To this shop comes a young company employee, uncertain in his career and needing a connection back to his past; the hostess of an elegant club; the vice-captain of a high-school archery team, an ageing businessman and a formerly homeless sushi chef. With impeccable manners and a warm demeanour, the shop owner helps each of them with more than just their stationery needs.
The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang
On the first day of the monsoon an old ramshackle building appears. This is The Rainfall Market. Inside you will find magical bookstores, hairdressers, perfumeries and anything your heart desires.
But you cannot enter without an invitation.
Serin, who lives in a small flat with her mother and dreams of a bigger, better life, can’t believe her luck when she receives a ticket inviting her to step inside The Rainfall Market.
Once inside she will have the opportunity to swap her life for a new one. A better one.
Accompanied by Isha the cat and followed by a mysterious shadow, Serin tentatively steps inside. There she is told she has just one week to choose the perfect life and find true happiness.
However, there is a catch.
If she doesn’t find her dream life, she’ll be trapped inside the market forever . . .
Butter by Asako Yuzuki
The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story, and translated by Polly Barton.
There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.
Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back.
Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?
Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, “The Konkatsu Killer”, Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.
Good afternoon everyone I hope you’re all having a good day? I wanted to do a little appreciation post for the lovely @indie_thinking today. These are some of the books they’ve sent me recently.
❤️The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji 🧡Forest Of Noise by Mosab Abu Toha 💛I Bet You You’d Look Good In A Coffin by Katy Brent 💚 It’s Complicated by Philippa Found 💙Every Moment Since by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen 🩵Homesick by Silvia Saunders 💜 Murder On The Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood 🩷The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
They all look amazing and I can’t wait to read them soon. Thanks so much to the lovely Mel and team for sending me all the books you do it’s so appreciated.
I was lucky enough to watch the recent @4thestatbooks showcase online last week and there are some equally fantastic books coming next year!
Have you read any of these? Any I should bump up my list?
Over The Rainbow Blog 